Songs about infertility/barrenness

Subject: Songs about infertility/barreness
From: GUEST,Trewissick
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 12:33 PM

Hello All,

Am putting together a concert for Advent and looking for a song/lament about barreness/infertility. Doesn't have to be a direct reference, just a vague hint in tne general direction would be enough!

So far I've drawn a bit of a blank so any suggestions would be very gratefully received!

Many thanks,
Trewk.

Subject: RE: Songs about infertility/barrenness
From: Marion
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 12:58 PM

Hi Trewissick. Here's a song of mine that might fit the bill - it discusses Elizabeth's barrenness, as well as a reference to Sarah (of Genesis fame).

I wrote this when I was living at L'Arche Cape Breton and our house was leading an Advent service on the text of Luke 1:5-25, 39-45. Elizabeth was an elderly relative of the Virgin Mary, and the mother of John the Baptist. The Latin phrases in the bridge are Elizabeth's words which became part of the Ave Maria.

If you're interested, I could send you the chord progression and a tape to learn it from. If you don't have a Mudcat membership, email me at [e-mail]

Cheers, Marion


St. Elizabeth

Lyrics and music © 2001 Marion Parsons

So my little Mary's growing up; tell me where the years have flown
My cousin Hannah's daughter; how I wished she were my own!
How I loved to hear her lessons, bring her presents, pinch her cheek
When I heard of her betrothal I was just too proud to speak
But my womb was going dry even as she clutched my knee
Her babble made me hear the child I knew would never be
No little boy to serve the Lord and carry on our name
No little girl to cheer my days and take away my shame.

Six months ago my Zach came home, talking with his hands
And he scribbled out a message that nobody understands
He wrote a name I've never heard, and promises strange
Of angels and of prophets and a child in my old age
And he had me read of Sarah, but I laughed to read the lines
He's no Father Abraham; we live in modern times
I could hear the village whisper and mock as I passed through
I looked at my old body, and I knew it wasn't true.



Bridge:

But as soon as I heard Mary call my name across the room
I felt a baby quicken and leap within my womb
And I cried, "Blessed, blessed are you and your son!
How am I so blessed to see my Lord's mother come?
Benedicta fructis ventris tui
Bene, benedicta tu...

Summer days are stretching and my day is getting near
(The goat is giving so much milk, our figs so plump this year!)
And I who was forgotten, grey and barren, nearly dead
I knit and stitch and spin and weave for my sweet baby's bed
And I can't help but think Mary's part of this somehow
Where there was nothing, since she came, there's hope and movement now
And I can't help but wonder where her own dear child will lie
I know my son's the prophet; I've a hunch who's the Most High.

Subject: RE: Songs about infertility/barrenness
From: Nick
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 03:33 PM

Not so much infertility as impotence (perhaps more than a vague hint!!)

My Husband's Got No Courage in Him - in the DT

Subject: RE: Songs about infertility/barrenness
From: Marion
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 04:22 PM

Trewk, can you tell us a little more about why you want to include a song about infertility in the Advent service? That might inspire some more suggestions. It seems that there must be songs about it, but I'm drawing a blank too.

Marion

Subject: RE: Songs about infertility/barrenness
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 25 Aug 06 - 10:59 PM

Child Ballad #231, The Earl of Errol, is about a lawsuit brought by the Earl's wife, claiming that he cannot impregnate her. I won't reveal the stunning conclusion, but you can read several versions at http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch231.htm. I don't think it's particularly apt for Advent, but it's an interesting tale.

Subject: RE: Songs about infertility/barrenness
From: GUEST,Trewissick
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 07:52 AM

Hi All,
Thanks for the replies and suggestions and sorry for the late reply from me! no internet access at home at the moment...
It's actually in relation to Anna, mother of Mary who laments her barreness...and the idea of barreness seemed to fit in with the bleakness of the season etc. We thought of using the Lamentations of Jeremiah, but the text isn't hugely relevent and while there are many beutiful settings (Tallis, Argricola etc etc), they're all quite long...
Marion - thanks for the suggestion - sounds great - unfortunately I think the song might be a bit too specific to use for this particular service though...
Howard & Nick - thanks for your suggestions too! The Earl of Errol I'd thought of but I think it really needs to be female barreness... It's quite interesting in itself that the subject doesn't appear regularly in songs... too much of a taboo I suppose...

Really any kind of non-specific lamentation might do...
Many thanks once again for all your help and happy Monday.

Trewk.

Subject: RE: Songs about infertility/barrenness
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 07:51 PM

Hi Trewk, and thanks for the clarification. I'm a little puzzled, though, about what the connection is between Anna and infertility. I guess there must be an extra-Biblical legend to that effect - can you tell us a little more about it? Was it a post-menopausal birth, like the stories of Sarah and Elizabeth?

I think there's some good bits in the latter part of Isaiah about female barrenness - I'd have to go home and look it up, though.

But I also find it odd that I can't think of any other songs on this topic - maybe I'll have to write one.

Cheers, Marion

Subject: RE: Songs about infertility/barrenness
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 02:55 AM

Hello again. I did a bit of wikipeding and googling and found that the story of Ste. Anne's barrenness comes from the non-canonical Gospel of James.

Here is a link to one English translation. Chapter 3 is Anne lamenting her condition poetically.

I think it's clear that what's needed is for somebody to base a song on that chapter. I'm not sure if it's going to be me or not, though. Would you mind emailing me so I know how to reach you again if I do come up with something? (my email is in first post).

Take care, Marion